Monaco FP3: Vettel and Ferrari signal their intent

Sebastian Vettel has become the Ferrari cat among the Mercedes pigeons as he tore up the form book to claim top spot on the timing screens at the end of the third and final free practice session of the Monaco Grand Prix weekend.

With Lewis Hamilton dominating the first day at the Principality, and most of the one hour morning FP3 session, Vettel scorched around in a best time of 1:16.143, which when he posted it was half a second better than Hamilton's best at the time.

Nico Rosberg, who was tad slower than his teammate, then proceeded to go faster, but was still two tenths short of Vettel's best.

Hamilton was third fastest, unable to improve on his early effort and complaining over the radio that "something's not right with the car" to which the response was that the team had erred with the tyres pressures.

Earlier the session red-flagged after Vettel's team mate Kimi Raikkonen hit the barriers as he got onto the loud pedal too early exiting Sainte Devote - nevertheless he ended sixth fastest without trying the supersofts which is the quicker rubber.

A Ferrari has not been on pole position in Formula 1 since July 2012, and Vettel since the 2013 Brazilian Grand Prix.

Daniel Ricciardo was fourth quickest in the Red Bull, ahead of the similarly Renault powered Toro Rosso of Spanish rookie Carlos Sainz in a Toro Rosso and Raikkonen, who crashed at Sainte Devote just after setting his best lap.

Dutch teenager Max Verstappen, who was second fastest behind Hamilton in Thursday's opening practise, was ninth on the timesheets after spinning and clouting the barriers, damaging the rear wing, at the last corner.

Jenson Button was eighth fastest in the McLaren, while teammate Fernando Alonso was only good for 14th and nearly half a second down on Button's best and two seconds off Vettel's pace.

Notably both Williams were well below par with Valtteri Bottas and Felipe Massa 15th and 16th respectively.

[highlight ]Monaco Grand Prix, Free Practice 3 - Saturday, 23 May 2015[/highlight]